RJ Corman at CSX Crossover, Guthrie, Ky


The conductor maintains a 3-point contact as he rides the end ballast car as the engineer on RJ Corman 3802 pushes three loaded ballast cars through the CSX Crossover at the north end of the yard at Guthrie, Kentucky on March 20th, 2021 on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.


There used to be a diamond at this location for the RJ Memphis line, but it was changed to a crossover at some point in the past. Now, RJ Corman uses the crossover to access either side of their rail operations at Guthrie. Mostly they run a local on weekdays, which they call the Cumberland City Turn, departing early morning normally and returning late afternoon. They head toward the Bowling Green end of the Memphis Line from here when they have grain cars to pick up or drop off.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 420mm, f/6, 1/640, ISO 160.

RJ Corman at CSX Crossover, Guthrie, Ky

The conductor maintains a 3-point contact as he rides the end ballast car as the engineer on RJ Corman 3802 pushes three loaded ballast cars through the CSX Crossover at the north end of the yard at Guthrie, Kentucky on March 20th, 2021 on the CSX Henderson Subdivision.

There used to be a diamond at this location for the RJ Memphis line, but it was changed to a crossover at some point in the past. Now, RJ Corman uses the crossover to access either side of their rail operations at Guthrie. Mostly they run a local on weekdays, which they call the Cumberland City Turn, departing early morning normally and returning late afternoon. They head toward the Bowling Green end of the Memphis Line from here when they have grain cars to pick up or drop off.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600mm @ 420mm, f/6, 1/640, ISO 160.

Music City Star westbound to downtown Nashville, TN

Nashville's Music City Star train #158 makes its reverse move, with engine 122 trailing, as it passes RJ Corman’s Nashville & Eastern Railroad on its way to the riverfront station in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.

The Nashville and Eastern Railroad (reporting mark NERR) is a short line railroad which administers 137 miles of track between Nashville, Tennessee and Monterey, Tennessee, of which 130 miles are currently operational. The company is based in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Nashville and Eastern was formed in the 1980s to reestablish freight service from Nashville to Lebanon and points east. The railroad currently extends to Monterey where it serves a large sand mining operation. The railroad provides freight shipping services to more than 30 companies. It also runs occasional passenger excursion trains from Nashville to Cookeville or Watertown in cooperation with the Tennessee Central Railway Museum in Nashville. The tracks that it operates were originally operated by the Tennessee Central Railway, which went out of business in 1968.

The railroad is the home of the Music City Star commuter rail service between Nashville and Lebanon. Service began on September 18, 2006. The service is operated by the Regional Transportation Authority, Nashville's public transportation agency.

NERR has a subsidiary, the Nashville & Western Railroad Corp. (reporting mark NWR), that operates between Nashville and Ashland City on the former western end of the Tennessee Central.

On November 5th, 2018, R.J. Corman Railroad Group announced that it had finalized an agreement to acquire both NERR and NWR as well as Transit Solution Group, operator of the Music City Star commuter trains. R. J. Corman took over operations in January 2019.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

Music City Star westbound to downtown Nashville, TN

Nashville’s Music City Star train #158 makes its reverse move, with engine 122 trailing, as it passes RJ Corman’s Nashville & Eastern Railroad on its way to the riverfront station in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.

The Nashville and Eastern Railroad (reporting mark NERR) is a short line railroad which administers 137 miles of track between Nashville, Tennessee and Monterey, Tennessee, of which 130 miles are currently operational. The company is based in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Nashville and Eastern was formed in the 1980s to reestablish freight service from Nashville to Lebanon and points east. The railroad currently extends to Monterey where it serves a large sand mining operation. The railroad provides freight shipping services to more than 30 companies. It also runs occasional passenger excursion trains from Nashville to Cookeville or Watertown in cooperation with the Tennessee Central Railway Museum in Nashville. The tracks that it operates were originally operated by the Tennessee Central Railway, which went out of business in 1968.

The railroad is the home of the Music City Star commuter rail service between Nashville and Lebanon. Service began on September 18, 2006. The service is operated by the Regional Transportation Authority, Nashville’s public transportation agency.

NERR has a subsidiary, the Nashville & Western Railroad Corp. (reporting mark NWR), that operates between Nashville and Ashland City on the former western end of the Tennessee Central.

On November 5th, 2018, R.J. Corman Railroad Group announced that it had finalized an agreement to acquire both NERR and NWR as well as Transit Solution Group, operator of the Music City Star commuter trains. R. J. Corman took over operations in January 2019.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

RJ Corman 3802 works Clarksville, Tennessee

On February 23rd, 2021 R.J. Corman (RJC) 3802 & 3804 lead the Cumberland City Turn as they work on dropping and picking up cars at Sanderson Pipe Corporation (SPC) off of International Blvd, in Clarksville, Tennessee on the Memphis Line.

This train is referred to as the Cumberland City turn and departs from Guthrie, Ky weekdays, usually in the morning, runs the Memphis Line to Cumberland City, TN and then returns after working industries like this one along the way.

The yellow structure to the center of the picture is what the employees of the SPC Pipe company attach their safety ropes to as they work on on unloading the cars.

The Memphis Line currently covers just over 113 track miles between Bowling Green, Ky and Cumberland City, TN, servicing 47 customers along the line. It interchanges with CSX on average six days a week at Bowling Green and Guthrie, Ky. The yard office for this line is located at Guthrie.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @116mm f/4.8, 1/1600, ISO 125.

RJ Corman 3802 works Clarksville, Tennessee

On February 23rd, 2021 R.J. Corman (RJC) 3802 & 3804 lead the Cumberland City Turn as they work on dropping and picking up cars at Sanderson Pipe Corporation (SPC) off of International Blvd, in Clarksville, Tennessee on the Memphis Line.

This train is referred to as the Cumberland City turn and departs from Guthrie, Ky weekdays, usually in the morning, runs the Memphis Line to Cumberland City, TN and then returns after working industries like this one along the way.

The yellow structure to the center of the picture is what the employees of the SPC Pipe company attach their safety ropes to as they work on on unloading the cars.

The Memphis Line currently covers just over 113 track miles between Bowling Green, Ky and Cumberland City, TN, servicing 47 customers along the line. It interchanges with CSX on average six days a week at Bowling Green and Guthrie, Ky. The yard office for this line is located at Guthrie.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @116mm f/4.8, 1/1600, ISO 125.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Princeton, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2100 leads the daily local south, as it arrives at their yard in Princeton, Ky after making its pickup from CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it's pickup on January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the National Railway Equipment shops in Paducah, Kentucky.

The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, dead in tow were, CIT/CBFX 1579, 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northside Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 46mm, f/4, 1/800, ISO 220.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Princeton, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway (PAL) 2100 leads the daily local south, as it arrives at their yard in Princeton, Ky after making its pickup from CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it’s pickup on January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the National Railway Equipment shops in Paducah, Kentucky.

The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, dead in tow were, CIT/CBFX 1579, 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northshore Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 46mm, f/4, 1/800, ISO 220.

A snowy Paducah and Louisville Railway local

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads a short snow covered local south after passing the south end of Pond River Siding at Madisonville, Ky on the early afternoon of February 16th, 2021.

The one thing I'm still getting used to is the delay you get when photographing moving objects with a drone. This shot for instance was at least 1/2 engine length back when I fired the shutter on the drone controller, but the train moved that much before the drone actually made the photo. I still obviously like the shot, but there's been more than one shot I missed due to the delay and with patience and practice I'm getting better at my timing!

When shooting, I try my best to frame the picture the way I want the final shot to look as this is the full frame I shot. However, it seems the answer may be to shoot a little wider then crop in a little when I process the image. 

When shooting the Air 2 at 48mp RAW/JPG this isn't a problem, but then at that quality I'll only get one shot as it takes longer to save the image to the card and the train will be past the position I want before I can shoot again. If shooting at the 12mp RAW/JPG size I can shoot several shots, but I like the larger 48mp size to work with, so I'll continue to work on my timing.

If any of my fellow Drone pilots out there have any suggestions please leave them in the comments below!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

A snowy Paducah and Louisville Railway local

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads a short snow covered local south after passing the south end of Pond River Siding at Madisonville, Ky on the early afternoon of February 16th, 2021.

The one thing I’m still getting used to is the delay you get when photographing moving objects with a drone. This shot for instance was at least 1/2 engine length back when I fired the shutter on the drone controller, but the train moved that much before the drone actually made the photo. I still obviously like the shot, but there’s been more than one shot I missed due to the delay and with patience and practice I’m getting better at my timing!

When shooting, I try my best to frame the picture the way I want the final shot to look as this is the full frame I shot. However, it seems the answer may be to shoot a little wider then crop in a little when I process the image.

When shooting the Air 2 at 48mp RAW/JPG this isn’t a problem, but then at that quality I’ll only get one shot as it takes longer to save the image to the card and the train will be past the position I want before I can shoot again. If shooting at the 12mp RAW/JPG size I can shoot several shots, but I like the larger 48mp size to work with, so I’ll continue to work on my timing.

If any of my fellow Drone pilots out there have any suggestions please leave them in the comments below!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/1250, ISO 100.

Indiana Southern IPL load arrives at Petersburg Generating Station

Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train as they pull their loaded coal train into the Petersburg Generating Station on February 13th, 2021. The ISRR repeats this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The "Petersburg Generating Station is a major coal-fired power plant in Indiana, rated at 2.146-GW nameplate capacity. It is located on the White River near Petersburg in Pike County, Indiana, just 1 mile upstream from a much smaller coal-fired Frank E. Ratts Generating Station. Petersburg G.S. is owned and operated by Indianapolis Power & Light."

The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section.

From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon DX 10-20mm lens @20mm f/4.5, 1/1600, ISO 250.

Indiana Southern IPL load arrives at Petersburg Generating Station

Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train as they pull their loaded coal train into the Petersburg Generating Station on February 13th, 2021. The ISRR repeats this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The “Petersburg Generating Station is a major coal-fired power plant in Indiana, rated at 2.146-GW nameplate capacity. It is located on the White River near Petersburg in Pike County, Indiana, just 1 mile upstream from a much smaller coal-fired Frank E. Ratts Generating Station. Petersburg G.S. is owned and operated by Indianapolis Power & Light.”

The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section.

From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon DX 10-20mm lens @20mm f/4.5, 1/1600, ISO 250.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Petersburg, IN

Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on the Petersburg Subdivision as they pull through their yard at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their pull through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant just north of Petersburg, Indiana. They repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. 

From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Petersburg, IN

Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on the Petersburg Subdivision as they pull through their yard at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their pull through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant just north of Petersburg, Indiana. They repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section.

From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Digital Photo Art - Indiana Southern Railway pulls a Indiana Power and Light load of coal northbound at Oakland City, IN.

Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #jimpearsonphotography 

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Digital Photo Art – Indiana Southern Railway pulls a Indiana Power and Light load of coal northbound at Oakland City, IN.

Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

PAL 2104 Dashing through the Snow!

The Princeton to Madisonville, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway local dashes through the snow past the backside of my property on the right as it heads north at Richland, Kentucky through the freshly fallen snow!

We got probably another 3-5 inches of fresh snow this morning, February 18th, 2021, and while listening to my scanner and trying to decide if I wanted to venture down off the hill at my home I heard the Paducah and Louisville Railway local getting track warrants about 3 miles from the house.

I put on my boots and went dashing through the snow to put my drone up before it got to me and grabbed this shot of PAL 2104, 2101, 2121 and 2112 leading. 

At Madisonville they'll do their interchange work in the cold frigid weather with CSX at Atkinson Yard, dropping of these cars and picking up others! 

A scene repeated all around the country on various railroads, by dedicated railroaders! Hats off to all the crews that run during frigid weather like this and all the behind the scenes folks that make it all happen!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

PAL 2104 Dashing through the Snow!

The Princeton to Madisonville, Ky Paducah and Louisville Railway local dashes through the snow past the backside of my property on the right as it heads north at Richland, Kentucky through the freshly fallen snow!

We got probably another 3-5 inches of fresh snow this morning, February 18th, 2021, and while listening to my scanner and trying to decide if I wanted to venture down off the hill at my home I heard the Paducah and Louisville Railway local getting track warrants about 3 miles from the house.

I put on my boots and went dashing through the snow to put my drone up before it got to me and grabbed this shot of PAL 2104, 2101, 2121 and 2100 leading.

At Madisonville they’ll do their interchange work in the cold frigid weather with CSX at Atkinson Yard, dropping of these cars and picking up others!

A scene repeated all around the country on various railroads, by dedicated railroaders! Hats off to all the crews that run during frigid weather like this and all the behind the scenes folks that make it all happen!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/320, ISO 100.

Broom work is never done after a good snow on the PAL!

It's February 16th, 2021 and a cool 10 degrees outside (even colder with the wind chill) as two Paducah and Louisville Railway employees work on clearing snow and ice from the switches at West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky.

On shortline and regional railroads this scene is repeated a lot, even on many of the class ones, epically with the recent snow front that moved through much of south in areas that normally don't get snow! I'm told that CSX in the Nashville area had crews doing this same thing all around the city!

Remember, it's not always about the power on the railroad! It's folks behind the scenes like the maintainers, MOW folks, Dispatchers, ect. that make it all move!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 185mm f/5, 1/1250, ISO 100 -0.7 Exp. Comp.

Broom work is never done after a good snow on the PAL!

It’s February 16th, 2021 and a cool 10 degrees outside (even colder with the wind chill) as two Paducah and Louisville Railway employees work on clearing snow and ice from the switches at West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky.

On shortline and regional railroads this scene is repeated a lot, even on many of the class ones, epically with the recent snow front that moved through much of south in areas that normally don’t get snow! I’m told that CSX in the Nashville area had crews doing this same thing all around the city!

Remember, it’s not always about the power on the railroad! It’s folks behind the scenes like the maintainers, MOW folks, Dispatchers, ect. that make it all move!

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 70-300 @ 185mm f/5, 1/1250, ISO 100 -0.7 Exp. Comp.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Oakland City, IN

Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody's Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central's Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Indiana Southern IPL load northbound at Oakland City, IN

Another load of black coal crosses over the Norfolk Southern east-west line as Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR) 3383, 3372, 3371 and 3386 lead their train north on their Petersburg Subdivision at Oakland City, Indiana on a very cold February 13th, 2021.

They will continue their move for another 20-30 miles or so through the freezing snow and ice to the Indiana Power and Light power plant at Petersburg, Indiana. As they repeat this run 3-6 times a week from Peabody’s Wildboar Mine in Lynnville, IN.

According to Wikipedia: The Indiana Southern Railroad (reporting mark ISRR) is a short line or Class III railroad operating in the United States state of Indiana. It began operations in 1992 as a RailTex property, and was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself acquired by Genesee & Wyoming in December 2012.

Indiana Southern Railroad operates 186 miles of track from Indianapolis to Evansville. From Mars Hill (a neighborhood on the southwest side of Indianapolis) southwest through Martinsville and Spencer to Bee Hunter in Greene County, the ISRR runs on tracks that once made up the majority of the former Indianapolis & Vincennes Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. State Route 67 parallels the ISRR along much of this section. From Bee Hunter to Elnora the ISRR has trackage rights over the Indiana Rail Road. ISRR tracks resume from Elnora through Washington in Daviess County, Petersburg in Pike County, Oakland City in Gibson County, Elberfeld in Warrick County and Daylight in Vanderburgh County before terminating in Evansville along the former New York Central’s Evansville & Indianapolis Branch.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Northbound load of coal at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 4522 and 2012 power their way north as they cross over the CSX Mainline on the Henderson Subdivision, at the location known as Monarch, in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 9th, 2021.

They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky, after picking up a load of coal the Warrior Coal Mine in Nebo, Ky.

This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Northbound load of coal at Monarch, Madisonville, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 4522 and 2012 power their way north as they cross over the CSX Mainline on the Henderson Subdivision, at the location known as Monarch, in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 9th, 2021.

They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky, after picking up a load of coal the Warrior Coal Mine in Nebo, Ky.

This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/800, ISO 100.

Waiting for a fresh crew

Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) two University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 2012 and 4522 sit tied down on the main at West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 6th, 2021.

They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky and are waiting on a fresh crew to take the train onto the Warrior Coal Mine loop at Nebo, Ky for another load of coal.

This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture!

#trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #dronephotography #jimpearsonphotography 

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Waiting for a fresh crew

Paducah and Louisville Railways (PAL) two University of Kentucky engines (SD70MACs) 2012 and 4522 sit tied down on the main at West Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky on February 6th, 2021.

They are leading a empty coal train for the Louisville Gas and Electric power plant outside of Louisville, Kentucky and are waiting on a fresh crew to take the train onto the Warrior Coal Mine loop at Nebo, Ky for another load of coal.

This engine pair has been traveling on this turn for a couple weeks now and always makes for a nice picture!

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 100.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Dawson Springs, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads the daily local south, approaching the US 62 overpass after making it's pickup from CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it's pickup on January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the National Railway Equipment shops in Paducah, Kentucky.

The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, dead in tow were, CIT/CBFX 1579, 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northside Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 150mm, f/5, 1/3200, ISO 640.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway at Dawson Springs, Ky

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads the daily local south, approaching the US 62 overpass after making it’s pickup from CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it’s pickup on January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the National Railway Equipment shops in Paducah, Kentucky.

The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, dead in tow were, CIT/CBFX 1579, 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northside Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 @ 150mm, f/5, 1/3200, ISO 640.

PAL Blue picking up black coal!

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky (Wildcats) locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead a empty coal under the beltline against the setting sun as they arrive at Warrior Coal Loop in Nebo, Kentucky for another load of black coal on January 23rd, 2021.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm DX Lens @15mm f/4, 1/1000, ISO 180.

PAL Blue picking up black coal!

Paducah and Louisville Railway University of Kentucky (Wildcats) locomotives 4522 and 2012 lead a empty coal under the beltline against the setting sun as they arrive at Warrior Coal Loop in Nebo, Kentucky for another load of black coal on January 23rd, 2021.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Nikon 10-24mm DX Lens @15mm f/4, 1/1000, ISO 180.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads the daily local through PAL's west yard after doing its interchange work with CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it's pickup today, January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the NRE shops at Paducah, Kentucky after a brief stay at Princeton. 

The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, CIT/CBFX 1579 and 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northside Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

Power move on the Paducah and Louisville Railway

Paducah and Louisville Railway 2100 leads the daily local through PAL’s west yard after doing its interchange work with CSX at Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Part of it’s pickup today, January 18th, 2021, was six engines, dead in tow, bound for the NRE shops at Paducah, Kentucky after a brief stay at Princeton.

The power on this train was, PAL, 2100, 2121, 2101, 2104, CIT/CBFX 1579 and 1589 switchers, NERX 2710, 8580 (both ex SP), Northside Mining 2001 and NREX 2724, also ex-SP.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 f/2.8, 1/1600, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville load of coal southbound on a winter's day

A loaded Paducah and Louisville coal train pulls south out of Warrior Coal Mine at Nebo, Kentucky, as it starts its run to Calvert City Terminal in Calvert City, Kentucky on a cold December 11th, 2020.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville load of coal southbound on a winter’s day

A loaded Paducah and Louisville coal train pulls south out of Warrior Coal Mine at Nebo, Kentucky, as it starts its run to Calvert City Terminal in Calvert City, Kentucky on a cold December 11th, 2020.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/500, ISO 100.

Paducah and Louisville WW1 NB at Monarch

The January 8, 2021 Paducah and Louisville Railway local WWW1 returns south running engines light after dropping off a string of cars at CSX's Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Here the power is crossing over CSX's Henderson Subdivision at the location called Monarch as it heads back to the yard at Princeton, Kentucky under stormy skies with PAL 2101 leading 2104 and 2106. The drone was moved away from the track before the train went under it.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 200.

Paducah and Louisville WW1 NB at Monarch

The January 8, 2021 Paducah and Louisville Railway local WW1 returns south running engines light after dropping off a string of cars at CSX’s Atkinson Yard in Madisonville, Kentucky. Here the power is crossing over CSX’s Henderson Subdivision at the location called Monarch as it heads back to the yard at Princeton, Kentucky under stormy skies with PAL 2101 leading 2104 and 2106. The drone was moved away from the track before the train went under it.

Tech Info: DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone, RAW, 4.5mm (24mm equivalent lens) f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 200.

Dashing through the snow!

Paducah and Louisville Railways 2012 (University of Louisville) locomotive leads PBX1, a loaded coal train, as it moves down the grade coming out of the Warrior Coal Mine loadout as heavy snow blows through the mine lead area at Madisonville, Ky on the early afternoon hours of January 7th, 2021.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 with a 1.4 Teleconverter @700mm f/10, 1/640, ISO 1400.

Dashing through the snow!

Paducah and Louisville Railways 2012 (University of Louisville) locomotive leads PBX1, a loaded coal train, as it moves down the grade coming out of the Warrior Coal Mine loadout as heavy snow blows through the mine lead area at Madisonville, Ky on the early afternoon hours of January 7th, 2021.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 150-600 with a 1.4 Teleconverter @700mm f/10, 1/640, ISO 1400.

Dashing through the Snow on PAL 2106...

Well, since we don't have snow today on Christmas here in Western Kentucky I looked back and found a shot from the past that thought I'd share today!

January 17, 2018 - A early morning Paducah and Louisville Railway 2106 leads a loaded coal train as it heads south through the snow covered cut at Charleston as it heads for the loadout at Calvert City, Ky. 

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 320.


January 17, 2018 - A early morning Paducah and Louisville Railway loaded coal train heads south through the snow covered cut at Charleston, Ky as it heads for the loadout at Calvert City, Ky.

Dashing through the Snow on PAL 2106…

Well, since we don’t have snow today on Christmas here in Western Kentucky I looked back and found a shot from the past that thought I’d share today!

January 17, 2018 – A early morning Paducah and Louisville Railway 2106 leads a loaded coal train as it heads south through the snow covered cut at Charleston as it heads for the loadout at Calvert City, Ky.

Tech Info: Nikon D800, RAW, Sigma 24-70 @ 70mm, f/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 320.